Everything you need to know about road rage, as well as a breakdown of which states have the best & worst drivers.
A Statistical Look into Road Rage
Road rage, or the act of getting angry and driving aggressively on the road, is a serious problem for drivers. Road ragers can endanger both themselves and other drivers, and can cause serious accidents. But did you know that some cities have higher instances of road rage than others?
Where the Road Rage Resides
According to Reuter’s Road Rage Survey, the states with the most road rage instances included New York, New Jersey and California. Wisconsin and Idaho, by contrast, have the fewest instances.
The cities with the angriest drivers include New York City, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Atlanta, and Minneapolis/Saint Paul. If you want to be far away from road raging drivers, move to Portland, Cleveland, Baltimore, Sacramento or Pittsburgh.
Causes of Road Rage
It might just be that kind of bad day. Or traffic might be stalled. There are many causes of road rage, but according to the Reuter’s study, 84% of people surveyed said that someone else talking on a cell phone was most likely to incite anger on their part.
Fifty percent of those surveyed were annoyed by drivers who cut across traffic without paying attention. Other causes of road rage include:
- Texting while driving
- Putting on makeup
- Driving too fast
- Tailgating
- Slamming on brakes
- Running red lights
Detroit and San Francisco have the most drivers texting while driving, and in Miami, people shave, put on makeup or read while driving. Look out for more road rage in these areas!
How They Show Their Anger
Road ragers respond differently. Some drive more aggressively. Others honk their horns. Some curse, wave their fist or make an obscene gesture.
If you’re on the road when an angry driver is acting out, stay far behind him if you can. Avoid passing him if he is driving errantly. If he is endangering other drivers, pull over and call the state highway department to let them know.
If you are prone to road rage, try these tricks to keep calm:
- Try to avoid driving during rush hour.
- Take deep breaths to avoid becoming stressed.
- Do not tailgate or drive aggressively. It won’t get you there faster.
- Do not multitask while driving.
- If your anger builds, pull over safely and take some time to decompress.
- Outside of driving, try meditating or yoga as a way to deal with your feelings of anger.
See a therapist if your case is extreme.
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